Continuing Education FAQs

IF you were licensed in the first half of the biennium (on or after 03/01/2017 – 02/28/2018)

OR

This is a second or subsequent renewal, you are required to complete and confirm in CE Broker, 26 contact hours of approved continuing education to renew. The 26 hours must include:

Two (2) hours of Prevention of Medical Errors education required by section 456.013(7), Florida Statutes, given by an FL OT board approved provider

Two (2) hours of a Laws and Rules education course as required in Rule Chapter 64B11-5.001, Florida Administrative Code, given by an FL OT board approved provider

A minimum of 14 “live” CE hours. NOTE: A minimum of 14 “live” CE hours are required if you take 12 hours of Home Study CE. Home Study hours are not required, only “limited” to 12 hours. You can take all 26 CE hours as “live” hours, if you wish, or as online “live interactive” courses (in real-time). Interactive courses must allow the opportunity for interaction with presenter/host.

IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST RENEWAL and you were licensed in the second half of the biennium (on or after 03/01/2018) you are exempt the 26 hours requirement and must only complete 3 contact hours of approved continuing education as stated:

two (2) hours of Prevention of Medical Errors education required by section 456.013(7), Florida Statutes, given by an FL OT board approved provider, and

one (1) hour of HIV/AIDS education as required by section 456.033, Florida Statutes.

CE Rule 64B11-5.001(10) Allows a maximum of 8 hours per biennium as either the lecturer, or as the author of course materials for the presentation of a CE course or program, academic course, peer-reviewed or non peer-reviewed workshop, seminar, in-service, electronic or web-based course that is directly related to the practice of occupational therapy. Credit may be awarded for the initial presentation of each course or program only; except in the case of the medical errors and laws and rules courses, repeat presentations of the same continuing education course or program shall not be granted credit. Continuing education credit for presentations of either medical errors or laws and rules courses is limited to four (4) credits per biennium. Additionally, continuing education credit for the development and teaching of postsecondary academic courses shall be one (1) continuing education credit per academic course credit.

You may claim credit for any courses that are “relevant to the practice of occupational therapy”. Continuing Education Rule 64B11-6.001 (b) states that CE credit will be awarded for completion of courses that… “Shall be relevant to the practice of occupational therapy as defined in Section 468.203(4), Florida Statutes, must be offered for the purpose of keeping the licensee apprised of advancements and new development in occupational therapy, and shall be designed to enhance learning and skills consistent with contemporary standards for occupational therapy practice.”

Continuing Education is for the purpose of making one a better OT or OTA “therapist or therapy assistant”, and not necessarily a better “healthcare provider” or “healthcare employee”. PLEASE NOTE: although a course may be “job relevance” does not always qualify it to be “occupational therapy practice relevant”. Sometimes, when it doubt it is best to leave it out- and take a course you are certain is of occupational therapy relevance.

If a course allows “interaction” with the provider/host/instructor during the course or program, in “real time”, it may be counted as a “Live” course. The questions you may consider in this determination would be as… Will the Live webinar allow/provide interaction for signing in? attendance recognition? the possibility of asking questions, commenting, etc., i.e. interaction back and forth? If it is only a recording of a previous, in the past live program, and there is not the ability to interact with the presenter/host, it is not a “Live” course. Interactive courses must allow the opportunity for interaction (communication back and forth) with presenter/host/instructor during the presentation of the program.

To find Board approved providers offering such “live” courses, you may search in CE Broker at: www.CEBroker.com. Select the “Live Courses” Tab, and one of the following categories: “Broadcasted Interactive Event” or “Web Based Program”. Interactive courses must be in “real time” and allow the opportunity for interaction with presenter/host.

The Department of Health, Division of Medical Quality Assurance, will now review your continuing education records in the electronic tracking system at the time of renewal. It will happen automatically when you renew your license, but it is important that you understand how this simple change will affect the way you renew your license in the future. If the practitioner’s continuing education records are complete, they will be able to renew their license without interruption. If the practitioner’s continuing education records are not complete, they will be prompted to enter their remaining continuing education hours before proceeding with their license renewal. Please click on the following link to Become Renewal Ready.

64B11-5.001 (11) A licensee may earn up to six (6) continuing education hours per biennium for supervision of a Level II Occupational Therapy or Occupational Therapy Assistant fieldwork student at the rate of no more than three (3) hours per student. To be eligible for the credit, the licensee must participate as the primary clinical fieldwork educator for the student.

To self-submit these hours, login to CE Broker, select “Report CE Hours” and “Supervision Level II” and follow the instructions.

No more than 12 hours of home study courses are allowed per biennium. Home study education does not include a web-based, satellite transmitted or on-line instruction program that allows or requires the licensee to interact or communicate back and forth with the instructor during the presentation of the program. Home study education is independent study and requires a certificate of completion. One may take up to 12 hours of Home Study, but, you are not required to take Home Study Continuing Education hours. You may take all 26 hours of CE’s as live or as online interactive (live) courses. To find Board approved providers offering such courses, you may search in CE Broker at: www.CEBroker.com. Select the “Live Courses” Tab, and one of the following categories: “Broadcasted Interactive Event” or “Web Based Program”). Interactive courses must be in “real time” and allow the opportunity for interaction with presenter/host.

A minimum of 14 “live” CE hours are required, if you take 12 hours of Home Study CE. NOTE: Home Study hours are not required, only “limited” to 12 hours. You are allowed to take all 26 CE hours as “live” hours, if you wish, or as online live interactive courses (in real-time). Interactive courses must allow the opportunity for interaction with presenter/host. To find Board approved providers offering such courses, you may search in CE Broker at: www.CEBroker.com. Select the “Live Courses” Tab, and one of the following categories: “Broadcasted Interactive Event” or “Web Based Program”.

26 hours, including 2 hours of a Florida OT Board approved course in Prevention of Medical Errors and 2 hours of a Florida OT Board approved course in Florida OT Laws and Rules. (Including 14 “live” hours and no more than 12 Home Study hours. Note CE: Broker identifies Home Study hours as “Anytime hours”). See Rule 64B11-5.001.

If you are renewing a license for the first time and were licensed in the second half of the biennium (on or after 03/01/2018) you are only required to complete 3 hours of continuing education (2 hours of a Florida OT Board approved course in Prevention of Medical Errors and 1 hour of a HIV/AIDS education course).

If you are renewing a license for the first time and were licensed in the first half of the biennium (on or after 03/01/2017 through to 02/28/2018) you are required to complete all 26 hours of continuing education, including a 1 hour HIV/AIDS education course (for first time renewal only), including 2 hours of a Florida OT Board approved course in Prevention of Medical Errors and 2 hours of a Florida OT Board approved course in Florida OT Laws and Rules.

Additionally,

At least fourteen (14) of the required hours per biennium must be in person or from interactive, real-time courses. An interactive, real-time course may be a web-based, satellite transmitted, telephone or video conference, or online instruction program that allows or requires the licensee to interact in real time, including live chat, with the instructor during the presentation of the program. See Rule 64B11-5.001(3)

Home Study – A licensee may receive continuing education credit for no more than twelve (12) hours of home study education per biennium. Home study education is a self-paced, non-interactive independent study that requires a certificate of completion. Taking a computerized exam at the end of the study, or being able to email the instructor with a question, does not qualify home study as a live or interactive course. Continuing education credit for video presentations is limited to five (5) credits per subject. See the Rule 64B11-5.001(4) for additional information regarding documentation.

Home study education does not include a web-based, satellite transmitted or on-line instruction program that allows or requires the licensee to interact or communicate back and forth with the instructor during the presentation of the program. Home study education is independent study and requires a certificate of completion. No more than 12 hours of home study courses are allowed.

The OT Board does not offer hardship extensions or exemptions. You are required to complete all of your profession’s renewal requirements, including CE’s, in order to renew. NOTE: Continuing education requirements may be completed by Florida OT Board approved providers, AOTA or FOTA providers, or any courses that are “relevant to the practice of occupational therapy”. Additionally, all CE may be completed online, if all your CE’s are interactive online (real time) courses. You may search in CE Broker at www.CEBroker.com. Select the “Live Courses” Tab, and one of the following categories: Broadcasted Interactive Event or Web Based Program. See the FAQ’s at this link for further information: https://floridasoccupationaltherapy.gov/continuing-education-faqs/

On the bottom-left of the screen, the applicant will click on View Application Requirements, which will provide the list of items to be submitted with the application.

Next, to begin the application process, select the button titled Apply to Become a CE Provider.

The next screen will start the application process by allowing for establishment of a login, or, if already approved for another Board, may enter previously established login. (NOTE: Deficiencies, course approvals, etc., will only be sent by email to the contact person listed in the application.

From there, the system will provide prompts on completing the application, paying the $250 application fee and submitting the application.

For additional questions or assistance when submitting your application, contact CE Broker at: 1-877-434-6323, by LIVE Chat on their site or by email at: support@cebroker.com

With a free Basic Account you can view your basic course history, which will list the course name, educational provider name, date of completion and hours reported. It would then be up to you to determine whether all of the courses that have been reported will complete all of your specific continuing education requirements. You can also self-report any continuing education that may be missing. The Basic Account provides all the necessary tools for you to comply with the departments reporting requirements.

A Professional Account (paid subscription) provides you with all of the tracking tools that CEBroker offers. Your transcript will display what your specific CE requirements are and will calculate what requirements have been met and what may still be outstanding. A Professional Account is a subscription service and is not a requirement but it can be a useful tool in managing your Florida continuing education requirements should you chose to subscribe.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The paramount difference from the Basic Account is the Professional Account (paid subscription) transcript calculates submitted and outstanding continuing education hours within the current licensure biennium dates so you can know what hours are still outstanding. The Basic Account provides only a list of your reported and self-submitted continuing education. It would then be up to you to determine whether all of the courses that have been reported and/or self-submitted will complete all of your specific continuing education requirements within the correct renewal biennium dates.

No, subscriptions remain optional. There are a number of services you can receive by subscribing, however, it is optional. You can always search for courses, report your hours, and view your course history free of charge by creating a Basic Account.

No, you can report your hours free of charge anytime during the biennium. For more information please visit www.CEatRenewal.com. Please note, if you take a course from a Florida Board approved Provider they are required to report on your behalf. If you take a course from a non OT Board approved provider it is your responsibility to report completion. There may be other ways for you to obtain credit towards continuing education required for license renewal. For specific approved methods of obtaining continuing education for your profession please review your Board rules.

If you do not have the required continuing education hours reported and confirmed in CE Broker, you cannot renew your license, after the 02/28/2019 expiration date. The online renewal system will not allow you to move forward with your renewal process until required continuing education hours have been confirmed “COMPLETE” in CE Broker. On 03/01/2019 your licensure status will move to a Delinquent/Active status. In order to renew a Delinquent/Active status license back to a Clear/Active status you will be required to Complete/Confirm the continuing education requirements and submit a $115 fee ($60 renewal +$55 delinquent fee, if you are only Delinquent for this one renewal period and if submitted prior to the next renewal period. You cannot work legally on a Delinquent status license in Florida.

Continuing Education is a requirement to renew a professional license. Section 456.025(7), F.S. requires the Department to implement an electronic continuing education tracking system for each biennial renewal cycle and to integrate such system into the licensure and renewal system. The Department has selected CE Broker as the electronic continuing education tracking system.

You may claim credit for any courses that are “relevant to the practice of occupational therapy”. Continuing Education Rule 64B11-6.001 (b) states that CE credit will be awarded for completion of courses that… “Shall be relevant to the practice of occupational therapy as defined in Section 468.203(4), Florida Statutes, must be offered for the purpose of keeping the licensee apprised of advancements and new development in occupational therapy, and shall be designed to enhance learning and skills consistent with contemporary standards for occupational therapy practice.” Continuing Education is for the purpose of making one a better OT or OTA “therapist or therapy assistant”, and not necessarily a better “healthcare provider” or “healthcare employee”.

Yes, but only up to 6 hours per biennium is allowed. Rule 64B11-5.001 (15) Performance of Pro Bono Services – A licensee may receive up to six (6) hours per biennium of continuing education credit through the performance of pro bono services to the indigent as provided in Section 456.013(9), F.S., or to underserved populations, or in areas of critical need within the state where the licensee practices. In order to receive credit under this rule, licensees must make a written request to the Board and receive approval in advance. One (1) hour credit shall be given for each two (2) hours worked. In the written request, licensees shall disclose the type, nature and extent of services to be rendered, the facility where the services will be rendered, the number of patients expected to be serviced, and a statement indicating that the patients to be served are indigent. If the licensee intends to provide services in underserved or critical need areas, the written request shall provide a brief explanation as to those facts.

A PDU is a Professional Development Unit. Most often, it is equal to one contact hour. One AOTA CEU is equal to ten contact hours, or ten PDUs. For more clarification on the conversion from contact hours to PDUs when it is not an AOTA CEU course, please go to www.nbcot.org, click on "Certificants" in the left-hand menu, then on "Renewal Guidelines Handbook" in the left-hand menu. The handbook should give you all the information you need for NBCOT’s requirements and how to convert hours.

Yes, if all your CE’s are interactive online courses. To find Board approved providers offering such courses, you may search in CE Broker at: www.CEBroker.com. Select the “Live Courses” Tab, and one of the following categories: “Broadcasted Interactive Event” or “Web Based Program”. Interactive courses must be in “real time” and allow the opportunity for interaction with presenter/host.

You as a licensed professional can make the determination if a course is acceptable for OT continuing education. Subsection (5) of rule 64B11-6.001, Florida Administrative Code, states that courses and programs not approved shall be approved as appropriate continuing education if said course or program meets the criteria as specified in rule 64B11-6.001. The course shall be relevant to the practice of occupational therapy and must be offered for the purpose of keeping the licensee apprised of advancements and new development in occupational therapy, and shall be designed to enhance learning and skills consistent with contemporary standards for occupational therapy practice. The Board of Occupational Therapy Practice and the staff do not approve individual courses.

Two hours for renewal. Course must be given by a Florida Board of Occupational Therapy Practice approved provider. Even though you may have been required to complete a 2 hour course in prevention of medical errors for initial licensure purposes (prior to July 1, 2016), you must complete an additional 2 hours of prevention of medical errors for each renewal. Course must include: A study of root-cause analysis; Error reduction and prevention; Patient safety; and Contraindications and indications specific to occupational therapy management including medication and side effects.

Continuing education hours can only be credited within the current biennium dates in which they are taken. A licensure biennium is the twenty-four month period between expiration dates. All occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, and occupational therapy continuing education provider licenses expire on February 28 of every odd year. New hours may be accrued on or after March 1, odd year. It is during this time period that the continuing education requirements must be met for each renewal cycle. You may visit the Boards Renewal page to see the CURRENT RENEWAL DATES.

Yes. Courses and programs not approved by the Board nor sponsored by an approved provider shall be approved as appropriate continuing education if said course or program meets the same criteria for provider approval. In summary, course must be "relevant to the practice occupational therapy"; given by appropriate educators, with experience and credentials relevant to the course or program’s subject matter; documentation obtained regarding the course educational goals, objectives and teaching methods; and receipts, vouchers, certificates, or other papers documenting proof of completion and proof of the number of the contact hours awarded. See 64B11-6.001(5), F.A.C.

Yes, as long as you completed an approved accredited program, (by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) www.aota.org) you may receive continuing education credit. Board Rule 64B11-6.001(4)(b), Florida Administrative Code, states, courses sponsored by a college or university when providing a curriculum for occupational therapists or occupational therapy assistants shall be awarded 10 hours of continuing education credit per semester hour and shall be verified by official transcripts.

Yes. According to the Board Rules courses offered by the Florida Occupational Therapy Association (FOTA), the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and occupational therapy courses, meeting the rule criteria, and provided by an education program approved by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy are approved for continuing education credit by the Board. Per 64B11-6.001(4), F.A.C. Continuing Education Program Approval.

Twelve (12) hours of home study per biennium are allowed. Home study education is independent study and requires a certificate of completion. Home study education does not include a web-based, satellite transmitted or online instruction program that allows or requires the licensee to interact or communicate back and forth with the instructor during the presentation of the program.

Yes. A maximum of eight contact hours may be awarded per biennium for attendance at board meetings where disciplinary cases are being heard, if the licensee is not on the agenda or appearing for another purpose. You must sign in and out on the Board’s Meeting Roster in the back of the room at the meetings, and request CE credit. The Board meetings last approximately 1-3 hours and are scheduled quarterly. You may check the Board’s Meetings schedule on the Meetings page. See Rule 64B11-5.001(10)(b).

No. If a course is an interactive course, it is not limited to being counted as home study hours. Home study education does not include a web-based, satellite transmitted or online instruction program that allows or requires the licensee to interact or communicate back and forth with the instructor during the presentation of the program. You may search in CE Broker for “Web-based Program (opportunity for interaction with presenter/host)”.

No. Always keep proof of continuing education requirements in a personal file. If you take a course not given by a Florida OT Board approved CE provider, you may self-submit your hours and a copy of certificate in CE Broker. If you take a course by a Florida OT Board approved CE provider, the provider is required to report your CE course completion credits to CE Broker within 90 days of course completion. If at that time you do not see credits posted to your records, please contact the CE provider.

Yes. A licensee may earn up to 6 continuing education hours per biennium for supervision of a Level II Occupational Therapy or Occupational Therapy Assistant fieldwork student at the rate of no more than 3 hours per student. The licensee must be the primary clinical fieldwork educator for the student. Documentation shall include verification provided by the school to the fieldwork educator with the name of the student, school, and dates of fieldwork or the signature page of the completed student evaluation form. Evaluation scores and comments must be deleted or blocked out.

No. Florida approved CE providers are required to report your CE course completion credits to CE Broker and are requested to do so within 90 days of course completion. If at that time you do not see credits posted to your records, please contact the CE provider.

There are two exemptions allowed for continuing education requirements. One is for the person licensed in the second half of the biennium. They are exempt from continuing education requirements for that biennium, except for the 2 hours prevention of medical errors course and the 1 hour HIV/AIDS education until the beginning of the next renewal, at which time they must begin collecting their continuing education requirements for the next renewal. See 64B11-5.001, F.A.C. for further information. Two, a licensee who is the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States is exempt from all licensure renewal provisions for any period of time in which the licensee is absent from the State of Florida due to the spouse’s duties with the Armed Forces. The licensee must document the absence and submit copies of the spouse’s military orders/status to the Board. See 64B11-5.0065, F.A.C..

No, subscriptions remain optional. There are a number of services you can receive by subscribing, however, it is optional. You can always search for courses, report your hours, and view your course history free of charge by creating a Basic Account